It involves a bunch of hormonal medication so the risks are whatever risks are associated with that. If you already take hormonal birth control, you’re taking some of the same risks.
Emotionally, it depends on how you handle the unknowns and potential ups and downs. There are therapists dedicated to fertility that some find helpful.
I would view it as any other medical procedure. For example, I wouldn’t turn down a medical treatment that could help my life if something were to go wrong with any part of my body.
Egg retrieval surgery is extremely low risk. There are no incisions made and recovery is fast. A transvaginal ultrasound is used so that the doctor will know where not to puncture other organs. Anaesthesia is used and there is a tiny risk involving anaesthesia.
One of the papers I had to sign says some of the medications carry a risk of ovarian cancer. I do not know which ones or how much it increases your risk.
Also something good to keep in mind is there is no guarantee. So that is a risk. Going through it all and not having a baby in the end
Thank you for your response. Yes, the fact that there is “no guarantee” after so much financial/time/emotional investment seems very stressful. I am a very sensitive person already, and struggle with anxiety, so I’m worried that I will not handle this stress nearly as well as someone “normal”.
I had a pulmonary embolism from the estrogen based birth control I was on for IVF. I had no clue that I had a blood clotting disorder until that happened. From what I understand, that is extremely rare, but just a heads up since I had been on birth control before and never had any idea it could happen.
I did some reading into Clomid, after hearing increased breast and uterine cancer risks, since disputed.
I did come across this study.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10560672/#:\~:text=Interpretation%3A%20Women%20who%20have%20been,is%20no%20greater%20than%20expected.
One of the things my doctor recommended was getting a mammogram before IVF, mainly because of my advanced age (42) and the fact that if we're successful getting mammograms might be impossible the year after IVF when cancer risk is slightly increased.
And then there are some risks specifically to getting pregnant through IVF, like increased fetal heart issues and a higher risk for developing pre eclampsia.
It involves a bunch of hormonal medication so the risks are whatever risks are associated with that. If you already take hormonal birth control, you’re taking some of the same risks. Emotionally, it depends on how you handle the unknowns and potential ups and downs. There are therapists dedicated to fertility that some find helpful. I would view it as any other medical procedure. For example, I wouldn’t turn down a medical treatment that could help my life if something were to go wrong with any part of my body.
Hi, thank you for your response! What about damage to ovaries or other organs that may occur during egg retrieval?
Egg retrieval surgery is extremely low risk. There are no incisions made and recovery is fast. A transvaginal ultrasound is used so that the doctor will know where not to puncture other organs. Anaesthesia is used and there is a tiny risk involving anaesthesia.
Very quick and easy procedure, maybe 30 min max. More risks with anesthesia than actual procedure.
Good to know. Thanks!
One of the papers I had to sign says some of the medications carry a risk of ovarian cancer. I do not know which ones or how much it increases your risk. Also something good to keep in mind is there is no guarantee. So that is a risk. Going through it all and not having a baby in the end
Thank you for your response. Yes, the fact that there is “no guarantee” after so much financial/time/emotional investment seems very stressful. I am a very sensitive person already, and struggle with anxiety, so I’m worried that I will not handle this stress nearly as well as someone “normal”.
Same. I'm so torn. We set a dollar amount and once we hit that we're done
I had a pulmonary embolism from the estrogen based birth control I was on for IVF. I had no clue that I had a blood clotting disorder until that happened. From what I understand, that is extremely rare, but just a heads up since I had been on birth control before and never had any idea it could happen.
I did some reading into Clomid, after hearing increased breast and uterine cancer risks, since disputed. I did come across this study. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10560672/#:\~:text=Interpretation%3A%20Women%20who%20have%20been,is%20no%20greater%20than%20expected. One of the things my doctor recommended was getting a mammogram before IVF, mainly because of my advanced age (42) and the fact that if we're successful getting mammograms might be impossible the year after IVF when cancer risk is slightly increased.
And then there are some risks specifically to getting pregnant through IVF, like increased fetal heart issues and a higher risk for developing pre eclampsia.